Lilies Swimming Hole is located inland from the picturesque coastal village of Mendocino. This swimming hole is along the Big River, about 10 miles upstream from the mouth of the river at the Pacific Ocean (by river miles; as the crow flies, it is about half that distance). Nudity is very well established at this site, which is tucked away in a thickly wooded area and accessed by unpaved roads that twist and turn through the coastal hills. Any problems with authorities are so far in the past as to be forgotten. Lilies is popular with all kinds of people, especially the hippie-ish sort, and there are some families and textile bathers that show up. Usually about half the crowd is naked, but usage patterns are variable enough that there are times when there may be a sizable majority of either nudists or textiles. Visitation on warm days varies from just a handful to several dozen, and even though Lilies is not far from the ocean, it often has balmier weather than the coast. It can be warm, sunny and clear even when the coast just a few miles away is cool and foggy.

Located on property once owned by a lumber company, Lilies and its surroundings were acquired by the state in 2002 and are now part of the Big River unit of Mendocino Headlands State Park. So far this change does not seem to have had any effect on Lilies or its nudity tradition. There is the possibility the state could develop the area to increase visitation, which most likely would not be good for nudists, but even a decade after the acquisition the state has yet to have establish long-term plans. (Due of California's budget crisis, most state park development is on hold for the foreseeable future.)

The road to this site is rough and rutted but usually passable. Bring protective footwear for wading into the river, which is very rocky. The water is very cold. Sunbathing is possible along the river bank.

A bit east of Lilies, Boyles Swimming Hole (pinpointed) is mostly a textile swimming spot, but nudity has been reported there on light-usage days. If you want to check it out, just follow the old logging road that parallels the river about 3/4 mile upstream.

VISUAL RESOURCES

GPS: 39.3131N, 123.7112W

city, county, state, country  Mendocino, Mendocino, California, U.S.A.

classification  1 (freely nude)

There are 7 placemarks related to this site.